Broom-binder.



No. 744,211. PATBNTBD Nov. 17, 1903.

H. W. LANGHAM.

BROOM BINDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1903.

1 0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 17, 1903.

PAT NT OFFICE.

BROOM-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,211, dated November 17, 1903.

Application filed'hugustfi l, 1903. Serial N0. 171,464. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. LANGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barton, in the county of Allegany and State of .Maryland, have invented certain new and useing and which will protect the straws of the broom from being broken.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple in construction, easily applied to and removed from a broom, inexpensive,and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view. the invention consistsof certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrange-.

. broom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the frame of the binder, which is preferably, though not necessarily, formed of a single wire rod bent to form the side bars 2, which at their upper portion are bent first inwardly, then upwardly, and then inwardly again, and then forming an eye 3, which engages t-he handle of the broom. At their lower ends the side bars 2 are bent to form oppositely-disposed loops 4 and 5 and are then bent laterally in opposite directions to form crossbars 6, the extreme ends of which are bent to form oppositely-disposed hooks 7 and 8, which are adapted to engage the loops 4 and 5, thereby forming a yoke or binding-head 9. To the side or cross bars of the yoke or binding-head are fixed plates or strips 10, of sheet metal, which are adapted to give a broader bearingsurface to the side bars of the binder to engage the sides of the broom. The plates 9 and 10 are connected to the side bars of the yoke, preferably by bending the plates to form loops or projections 12, having perforations formed therein, through which the side bars pass, as shown.

13 denotes a holding and guiding device for the binder, the same consisting of two spring- Y rods bent to form pairs of substantially U- shaped horizontally-disposed broom-engaging clamps having eyes 14 and 15 and pairs of spring clamping-arms 16 and 17. The ends 18 of the pair of arms 16 are bent upwardly and inwardly, as shown, and said upwardlyturned ends are bent to form notches 19, which are engaged by the arms 17 of the opposite clamp. The ends 20 of the opposite pair of arms 17 are bent downwardly and inwardly, and said downwardly turned ends have formed therein notches 21, which are adapted to be engaged by the arms 16 of the first-mentioned clamp, by which means the arms of the two clamps are interlocked. The upwardlybent ends 18 of the arms 16 pass between the arms 17 of the opposite clamp and enter the straws forming the head or upper portion of the broom and are held therein by means of the arms 17, which engage the notches 19 in said ends. The downwardly-bent ends 20 of the arms 17 likewise enter the straws of the broom-head and are held therein by means of the arms 16, which engage the notches 21 in said arms. In this manner the holding and guiding device 13 for the binder is clamped to the broom-head.

The binder is slidably connected to or held by the holder or guide 13 by means of the eyes 14 and 15,which are formed on the ends of the clamps forming the holder and through which pass the side bars 2 of the binder. This connection permits the binder to be moved up or down on the broom, thereby more or less tightly binding the straws together or shortening the bend or sweep of the broom and causing the same to become stifier or more flexible, as may be desired for sweeping different surfaces. This arrangement also strengthens the straws of the broom and relieves the strain on the cord bindings of the same.

22 denotes a ring or handle fixed to one of the cross-bars 6 of the binder, whereby the same may be raised or lowered on the broom.

In the application of a device as herein described to a broom it will be seen that the same may be stiifened for heavy or coarse sweeping, and by adjusting the device the broom may be made more flexible for use in light sweeping. Furthermore, the straws forming the broom are protected from being broken or otherwise injured and are kept in proper shape at all times.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A broom-binder, consisting of a pair of side bars, having formed at their upper ends an eye, and having their lower ends bent to form cross-bars at one of the opposite ends of each of which is formed a loop and at the other of the opposite ends a hook, said hooks being adapted to engage said loops to form a binding-head, engaging plates secured to said cross-bars, and a holding and guiding device whereby said binder is adjustably held in engagement with said broom. substantially as described.

2. A broom-binder, consisting of a pair of side bars, having formed at their upper ends an eye, and having their lower ends bent to form cross-bars at one of the opposite ends of each of which is formed a loop and at the other of the opposite ends a hook, said hooks being adapted to engage said loops to form a binding-head, engaging plates secured to said cross-bars, and a holding and guiding device consisting of two substantially U -shaped, horizontally-disposed clamps, each having an eye formed at one end to receive the side bars of said binder, the side bars of said clamps being adapted to interlock, the ends of one pair of said side bars projecting upwardly and inwardly and the ends of the opposite pair of bars extending downwardly and inwardly, said ends engaging the broom-head and thereby holding the device in place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT W. LANGHAM.

Witnesses:

ANNA M CCONNELL, ETHEL MAJOR. 

